Ps Craig Mobey
Jesus has ascended to heaven and is presently seated at the right hand of the Father. It would be wrong to assume that He is inactively waiting for time to pass until the Father sends Him back to earth again, something we know as the Second Coming.
On the cross, just before Jesus died, He said, “It is finished” not “I am finished.” If He had said, “I am finished” then it would mean either that His work is finished for all time – in other words, He has stopped working, or that He died defeated, and His mission was, therefore, a failure.
But He said, “It is finished.” Let’s turn to Scripture…
Scripture: John 19:28-30 (NIV)
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Introduction
For anyone finishing a task and reporting on it, to say “I am finished” is natural. By this, we mean that I have accomplished what I set out to do. There is nothing left outstanding. The “t’s are crossed, and the i’s are dotted.” I have met all the requirements. I have nothing left to do.
If Jesus therefore, had said, “I am finished,” we would have most probably understood that He achieved what He came to do, or failed at what He came to do. But importantly, “I have finished” means that things would have stopped at the cross. Yet He said, “It is finished.”
In this sense, the difference between “I” and “It” is massive and the implications of “It” as opposed to “I” affects all of us today.
It is finished
The Greek word tetelestai is translated as “it is finished.” It is derived from the verb teleo which means to “bring to an end or to complete or to accomplish.” Tetelestai is a word that you would use when you did what you set out to do, meaning that there is nothing more outstanding. So far then, there is little apparent difference between “it is finished” and “I am finished.”
That is until we understand the implications of tetelestai as a Greek word, being in the perfect tense. The perfect tense adds the idea that this happened and is still in effect today. It is not past tense. In the perfect tense, it is therefore speaking of an action completed in the past and the results are here with us today. The completed result of Jesus’ mission is, therefore, historic, present and future.
We now start to understand something of the difference between “it is finished” and “I am finished.” Tetelestaiwas Jesus’ final cry of both victory and truth. If Jesus had said “I am finished,” it would mean – contextually – that the effect of His death would have ended at His crucifixion.
A passage such as the last sentence of Matthew 28:20, “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” would ask for some very creative interpretation for the overall unity of the Bible. In a similar light, one of the Names of Jesus, “Immanuel” – God with us – would then have had a temporary sense, meaning, only His time on earth.
But He said, “It is finished.” Jesus was not expressing relief that His suffering was over. Jesus was not saying “I am defeated.” Jesus was not saying “I have failed.” Jesus was not saying “I have nothing left to do.” Jesus was not saying “I am exhausted and cannot do this anymore.”
It was Jesus saying that what He came to do was done. It was Jesus saying that what the Law required for salvation has been accomplished. It was Jesus saying that the price of our redemption is paid. It was Jesus saying that the purpose of God in the history of man is accomplished. It was Jesus saying that His work continues. It was Jesus saying that He is with us always. It was Jesus saying that His work in our lives and the church continues.
“I am finished” would have been the words of someone who has also stopped working. Jesus, however, is still active.
Jesus’ work is ongoing
Jesus is directing the progress of the gospel and saving sinners
The gospel is about Jesus, who is alive, and it is still being proclaimed. We are instructed to share this good news. This is the will of the Father and Jesus is directing this work.
According to Matthew 28:18-20, all authority is with Jesus, who is with us until the very end of the age, and it is on His instruction that we evangelize. We are witnesses to Him (Acts 1:8). While we are on the topic of the Book of Acts, Cole writes, “Indeed the Book of Acts is best described as the Acts of the Risen Christ through the Holy Spirit with Special Reference of Peter and Paul.”
1 Timothy 1:15 reads, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” Jesus saved, Jesus saves, and Jesus will save. Full acceptance of this fact.
On this, we must be clear; He loved you first. He chose you. He accepted you. He, through the Holy Spirit, gives you life and faith. We respond to His gifts of love, faith and life by confessing that Jesus is Lord; the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Jesus is with us
Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans. He promised us one “as He.” And He sent the Holy Spirit and is thus always with us.
We are filled with the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is at work in us shaping our character as we grow in becoming more and more like Him (Romans 8:9-11; John 15:26).
Jesus rules the universe
We are in a period of history called Regnum Christi. The reign of Christ.
The concept of Lords and Ladies is familiar to us; indeed, we usually think of the British aristocracy. In apostolic times, people in Jesus’ world would have thought of Caesar, who was also called “Lord.” To call Jesus “Lord” was therefore to show loyalty to Christ, not Caesar; something that could be punished with death.
Jesus is Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). This is a fact, and we need to understand what it means to say “Jesus is Lord and Christ.” He is presently reigning. His reign is not a future event. It is already. Herein is something interesting. If we are to call ourselves “Christians” (Christianos), then it means that we belong to and irrevocably associate with Christ. It is at the same time also a confession that we live under the reign of Christ.
Jesus is our saviour and is Lord over our life and Lord over everything (Colossians 2:10).
Jesus, our High Priest, is interceding on our behalf
Hebrews 7:23-25 reads, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
This means that Jesus is our advocate when we sin (1 John 2:1-2). He is positioned between us and the Father and declares our righteous standing because of His sacrifice and our faith in Him.
There is a verdict of “not guilty” not because we did not do anything, but because He did everything.
Jesus is overseeing churches
Through Scriptures such as Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 1:22 and others, we know that Jesus is the head of His church. What we might not initially realize is His overseeing role in church life. When we carefully read Revelation 2-3, we note that Jesus had a complaint against 5 out of the 7 churches. With this in mind, let’s read Revelation 2:1-4, “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
Conclusion
“It” is finished, but He, although seated at the right hand of the Father, is not finished. He is at work and one day He is coming again!
So where does this knowledge leave us?
Firstly, it leaves with the assurance of salvation. “It is finished.”
Secondly, it leaves us with the assurance that Jesus is still at work and reigns. “It is finished” is not the same as “I am finished.”
Thirdly, it leaves us with the realization that like Jesus, we should be doing the will of the Father and making disciples through our witness. Our attitude, words, behaviour and deeds matter in the sense that they must reflect Jesus’ work in our lives and point others to Him.
Fourthly, we cannot serve two masters. If Jesus is Lord and is reigning, that means we (ourselves) are not. Or should not. This speaks to our love, submission, humility and obedience to Him.
Fifthly, because Jesus is the Christ; the Messiah, there is no other way to salvation. Not through any person, not by any other name and certainly by nothing we can do. Jesus said, “It is finished” and it is only Jesus who could utter those words with authority and with assurance.
“It is finished.”
Amen.